The Baltimore Orioles got a quality start out of Bruce Zimmermann in Detroit this afternoon. The problem of course was that they couldn’t put anything on the board in their column. Which makes it impossible to win. Zimmermann’s line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 earned), 1 BB, 2 K.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the last of the first on Castro’s sac fly-RBI. That was an unearned run, as Schoop led off the inning with a double an led took third on an error. For what it’s worth, had Castro gotten a base hit instead of a sac fly, the run would have been earned.
Hasse would smack a solo homer in the last of the fifth, and Castro in the seventh. Again, when you can’t put any runs on the board, it’s impossible to win. The O’s did have the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning, but a double-play ended that threat. And as I’ve written before, you have to take advantage of your opponents’ mistakes. Detroit did today; and the Orioles didn’t.
Zimmermann did his job, however. In throwing a quality start, he put the team in a spot to win the ballgame. That’s all you can ask of a starting pitcher.
Oriole starters in general are going a little deeper into games over the past two weeks or so. Another good sign. As good as the bullpen’s been, the starters have to help them out in a sense and keep them spry. Quality starts are a great way to do that.
The series in Detroit ends tomorrow afternoon at Comerica Park. Tyler Wells gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 